Sports
Aftermath ofWorld Cup: 17 national team coaches step down after fiesta
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The emotional aftermath of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has continued to reshape international football, with no fewer than 17 national team coaches leaving their positions following the conclusion of the tournament.
For some, the decision marked the end of remarkable eras built over several years, while for others, the disappointment of failing to meet expectations proved too difficult to overcome. A number of coaches chose to resign, others saw their contracts expire without renewal, while some were dismissed as their football associations looked to begin a new chapter.International Sports Competitions
The latest casualty is Belgium manager Rudi Garcia, whose departure was confirmed on Monday after the Royal Belgian Football Association announced it would not renew his contract, which expires on July 31.
Garcia guided Belgium to the quarter-finals, where the Red Devils were eliminated by eventual champions Spain, who went on to edge Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s final.
His exit adds to a growing list of high-profile managerial changes that have followed the tournament, reflecting the enormous expectations and pressure attached to coaching at the highest level of international football.
Among the biggest departures is France’s Didier Deschamps, who brought an end to his remarkable 14-year reign after leading Les Bleus through one of the most successful periods in their history.
Portugal’s Roberto Martínez also stepped down after his side’s Round of 16 defeat to Spain, while Croatia’s Zlatko Dalić ended his nine-year spell after his team’s Round of 32 elimination.
Mexico’s Javier Aguirre resigned after England knocked his side out in the Round of 16, while Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman departed following the Dutch team’s Round of 32 exit.
Marcelo Bielsa also stepped aside after their respective World Cup campaigns, as Scotland’s Steve Clarke and South Korea’s Hong Myung-bo resigned after failing to achieve their tournament objectives.International Sports Competitions
Tunisia dismissed Sabri Lamouchi after a crushing 5-1 defeat in their opening match, Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann also departed following disappointing campaigns that fell short of expectations while Czechia’s Miroslav Koubek resigned following his country’s group-stage exit
Senegal parted ways with Pape Thiaw after terminating his contract, while Carlos Queiroz left Ghana after the Black Stars were eliminated in the Round of 32.
The full list of coaches who have left their national teams after the 2026 FIFA World Cup includes:
Didier Deschamps (France)
Roberto Martínez (Portugal)
Zlatko Dalić (Croatia)
Javier Aguirre (Mexico)
Ronald Koeman (Netherlands)
Sebastián Beccacece (Ecuador)
Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay)
Steve Clarke (Scotland)
Hong Myung-bo (South Korea)
Sabri Lamouchi (Tunisia)
Miroslav Koubek (Czechia)
Pape Thiaw (Senegal)
Rudi Garcia (Belgium)
Carlos Queiroz (Ghana)
Jamal Sellami (Jordan)
Vladimir Petković (Algeria)
Julian Nagelsmann (Germany)
The wave of departures underlines the harsh realities of international football, where even experienced coaches often pay the price for underwhelming performances. With qualification campaigns for future tournaments already on the horizon, many football federations are expected to begin rebuilding under new leadership in the coming months.
Sports
Countries That Qualified For 2027 Women’s World Cup As Cameroon Beat Nigeria In Quarter- Final
Cameroon on Sunday secured their place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after edging Nigeria’s Super Falcons 1-0 in their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final encounter.
The victory also sent the Indomitable Lionesses into the WAFCON semi-finals, securing their qualification for next year’s global tournament in Brazil.
The 2026 WAFCON doubles as Africa’s qualifying competition for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with the four semi-finalists earning the continent’s automatic tickets to the tournament.
Cameroon join Algeria and Morocco, who had already sealed their places after reaching the semi-finals on Saturday.
Brazil will host the 2027 tournament, while the remaining qualifying places are being determined through continental competitions across the various confederations.
See full list of countries that qualified:
Host:
Brazil
AFC:
Australia
China PR
Japan
Korea DPR
Korea Republic
Philippines
CAF:
Algeria
Cameroon
Morocco
Concacaf:
None yet
CONMEBOL:
Argentina
Colombia
OFC:
New Zealand
UEFA:
Denmark
France
Germany
Spain
More teams are expected to secure qualification as the various continental qualification campaigns conclude.
The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will feature 32 teams.
Sports
Just in: Unlucky Sunday for Nigeria as Super Falcons, Flying Eagles crumble, World Cup hopes dimmed
It is an unlucky Sunday for two National teams of Nigeria, the Super Falcons fell to Cameroon just as Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been knocked out of the race for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup after suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the final of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship.
The defeat at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, also ended Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The WAFU Zone B final carried added importance, as the winner was guaranteed a place at the 2027 U-20 AFCON, which will serve as the qualifying tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
With Burkina Faso emerging victorious, the Young Stallions secured the region’s ticket, while Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the global youth tournament came to an end.
Burkina Faso took control of the final from the opening whistle, scoring three goals within the first 15 minutes and leaving the Flying Eagles with a huge deficit.
Nigeria struggled to contain the Young Stallings’ attacking pressure and could not recover from the early setback before the break.
Coach Abdu Maikaba’s side attempted to fight back after the interval but failed to produce the response required to turn the game around.
Burkina Faso eventually added another goal to complete a convincing 4-1 victory, while Nigeria’s consolation effort was not enough to change the outcome.
The result was particularly painful for the Flying Eagles after Burkina Faso had already defeated them 2-0 during the group stage.
Nigeria had hoped to avenge that earlier loss in the final but instead suffered another defeat to the Young Stallions when the stakes were highest.
The Flying Eagles had reached the final after overcoming Côte d’Ivoire in a dramatic semi-final.
Sports
WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons suffer shock defeat as Cameroon gets automatic ticket for World Cup
The defending champions Nigeria Super Falcons suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Cameroon at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, ending their WAFCON title defense and missing an automatic spot for the World Cup.
A 20th-minute free-kick by Maeva Nyadjou sealed the historic win for the Indomitable Lionesses .
Breakthrough: Teenage defender Maeva Nyadjou scored from a powerful 20th-minute free-kick to put Cameroon ahead.Nigerian Pressure: Nigeria dominated possession and created numerous chances, racking up heavy pressure and shots on goal, but couldn’t break down a resolute Cameroonian defense.Goheroics: Cameroon’s goalkeeper put in a player-of-the-match performance, denying late attacks including a final-moments chance from Esther Okoronkwo.Consequences of the LossWorld Cup Qualification: Cameroon booked an automatic ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and advanced to the WAFCON semi-finals against Morocco.Play-off Path: Nigeria’s title defense is over, but they move into a Wednesday play-in match against South Africa to chase a remaining inter-confederation play-off spot.Watch the match highlights and key moments from the dramatic quarter-final encounter:
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